Yucking it up in church. Wherein Fr. Z rants.
Most of our churches are consecrated. They are holy places. Their walls are anointed with chrism. They have been given a name. They are sacred places. Within their walls we participate in the most sacred act we little humans can be privileged to witness, which God Himself gave us to renew, before which the angels themselves bow and worship: the Holy Mass which is the Sacrifice of the Cross.
In Washington DC you find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. An elite corps, the Old Guard, maintain watch at the Tomb. They preserve the decorum of the place. They correct people who do not maintain proper decorum.
Here is a video of one of the sentinels silencing people who are talking loudly and laughing near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, crossing over the chains and boundaries, remaining seated when they can stand.
Remember this video, you … you… church-blabbers… when you yuk-it-up or shoot-the-breeze in your parish church, when you slap each other on the backs at the “sign of peace”or refuse to kneel when able, when you troop up into the sanctuary itself as if it’s a Dunkin’ Donuts shop.
Sorry… am I not being fluffy enough for you? ”Time’s have changed!”, you say?
I don’t think so.
If this level of decorum is expected at an outdoor secular tomb, how much more should we expect decorum within the hallowed walls of the place where Mass is offered?
Reason #75 for Summorum Pontificum.
